Sewing machine



Nov. 5, 1946. Q PlKUL 2 ,410,679

SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1944 a Sheets-Sheet 1 NbvQ5, 1946. p u2,410,679

' SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov. 5, 1946 J. H.PlKUL SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 5 Q3 4| Jaw kNov. 5, 1946. J, PIKUL 2,410,679

SEWING MACHINE I Filed Feb. 5, 1944 8 Sheets-Shed 4 Nov. 5, 1946.

J. H. PIKUL SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 5INYENJFURI W RFPJM Nov. 5, 1946. J plKuL 2,410,679

- SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 3, 1944 s Sheets- Sheet 6 v Til Q15, J T151911525 I311 L915 INVEQ1+EJ RI 2a 1 a Z Z 11y ew cw. 4 PM Nov. 5; 1946, Q

- J. H. PIKUL 2,410,679

SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb 3, 1944 8 Shets-Sheet 7 Nov. 5 1946. J. H.PIKUL SEWING MACHINE Filed Feb. 5, 1944 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVIiN+URZPatented Nov. 5, 1946 SEWING MACHINE Joseph H. Pikul, West Newton, Mass,assignor to The Reece Corporation, a corporation of 'Maine ApplicationFebruary 3, 1944, Serial No. 520,836

9 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines and more particularly tomachines employing a pair of loopers for the formation of a group ofstitches. Machines of this general type are described, for example, inmy prior Patent No. 2,131,387, dated September 27, 1938, and in thepatent to Avis, No. 2,158,171, dated May 16, 1939.

The machines described in the above patents are adapted to attachbuttons having perforations or holes through which stitches are formed,and the two loopers in each of these machines are together oscillatedand normally cooperate alternately with a reciprocating needle in theformation of successive attaching stitches through a pair of holes in abutton, said loopers coopera ing respectively with the needle onalternate ree ciprocations of the latter through the spaced holes.During the normal operation of the loopers in the formation of attachingstitches, one or the other of the loopers seizes each thread loop castby the needle on its ascent after descending through one hole in thebutton, and deflects and positions the same loop for entry by the needleon its next descent through the other hole in the button. In theformation of a tying stitch, after the formation of a group of attachingstitches, the needle is conventionally passed twice through the samehole in the button, and when this occurs the normal operation of theloopers would cause one looper to seize and deflect a thread loop castby the needle after its first passage through said hole and prior to itssecond descent through the same hole, so that such loop would obviouslybe deflected out of the path of the needle and, hence, would not beentered by the latter on its second reciprocation. In order that thissame loop will, however, be entered by the needle on its second andfinal reciprocation in the formation of the tying stitch, either thelooper oscillation is reversed after seizure of the loop to bring thelatter into the path of the needle on its following descent, and specialmeans are brought into play to position said loop for reception of theneedle, as is the case in the machine described in my prior patentmentioned, or an irregular oscillation is imparted to the loopers sothat the other looper will seize said loop, as is the case in themachine described in the Avis patent mentioned. Also, in each of themachines described in the aforementioned patents, a cam plate,controlling the opening and closing of loop spreaders associated withthe loopers, has to be specially moved in the formation of a tyingstitch.

It is the primary aim and object of the present invention to provide ina two-looper machine for the transfer of a needle thread loop, from thelooper which seized it, to theother looper for positioning said loop forentry by the needle on its next descent, thereby not only entailingfewer changes in the cooperation "of both loopers than were heretoforenecessary for the formation of two types of stitches (attaching andtying stitches), butalso advantageously adapting the two loopers toother types of sewing for which they were heretofore unsuitable.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to provide, inboth of the prior art machines referred to, for the transfer of a needlethread loop from the looper which seized it to the other looper, so asto obviate any special loop deflecting means and/or any motion of aspreader-controlling cam plate, for the formation of a tying stitch.

The invention Will best be understood from the following description ofan illustrative embodiment thereof shown in the accompanying drawings,in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a sewing machine embodying thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of certain needle-operating mechanism ofthemachine.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view, partly in section, of certainlooper-op'erating mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 3a is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3a3a of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3b is a fragmentary section taken on the line 3b -3b of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3c is a fragmentary section through the stop mechanism of themachine substantially along the line .'ic3c of Fig. 32).

Fig. 311 is a section similar to Fig, 3c, showing the stop mechanism ina different position of operation.

Fig. 4 is a front elevation of the same looper operating mechanism,drawn to a larger scale.

Fig. la is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing certain operating elementsin a different relative cooperative position, however.

Fig. 41) illustrates in an exaggerated manner the development of one ofthe cam grooves in the main cam of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary top View of the throat plate of themachine, carrying certain loop-arrester plates on its bottom side.

Fig. 6a is a section taken on the line id-5a of Fig. 6.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line of Fig.6.

Figs. 8 to 14, inclusive, are fragmentary front elevations, partly insection, of the stitch-forming mechanism of the machine, showingprogressive steps in the operation of the same.

Fig. 14a perspectively illustrates the last step in the formation of atying stitch.

Figs. 15 and 16 are enlarged sections taken on the lines I|5 and |6l6,respectively, of Figs. and 12, respectively.

Fig. 17 perspectively illustrates the function of the loop-arresterplates shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Fig. 18 is a plan view of a two-hole button attached to work by thepresent machine.

Figs. 19, 20 and 21 illustrate several conditions of a freely suspendedthread loop.

Figs. 22 and 23 illustrate another example of sewing work which mayadvantageously be performed by a machine embodying the presentinvention.

Figs. 24 to 32, inclusive, illustrate progressive operative steps ofstitch-forming mechanisms in performing the sewing work illustrated inFigs. 22 and 23.

The present invention, having first been applied advantageously in abutton sewing machine, will now be described in connection with such amachine. Having particular reference to Fig. 1 in the accompanyingdrawings, the frame of the machine comprises a bed I 0, an overhanginghead II, and a neck i2 joining the two. The bed l0 carries a work plateI3 upon which the fabric W, to which a button B is to be attached, issupported. Button-holding and work-clamping means is generally indicatedat A.

The stitch-forming instrumentalities include an eye-pointed needle 20,'carried by a needle bar 2| which is mounted for vertical or longitudinalreciprocation in the head H, and an underneath looper mechanism 22.

The needle bar 2| is guided at its lower end in a bearing 23, mounted bymeans of a universal joint 24 on the front end of a carrier alternatelythrough the holes a and b of the button B, by mechanism comprising alink 33 (see also Fig. 2) having a pin or stud 34 projecting downwardlyinto a longitudinally disposed Way 35 in the upper face of the carrier25. An upwardly projecting portion of the pin 34 is received in a way 35in a head 31, having a shank 38 mounted in a bracket 39| in the machinehead The way 3.6 extends transversely to the carrier 25 andlongitudinally to the link 33 as shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 2.The opposite end of the link 33 is provided with a stud 39 which isadjustably positioned in an arcuate slot 40 in one arm of a lever 4|,secured to an upright shaft 42 which is suitably journalled in themachine frame. Adjustment of the stud 39 in the slot 40 determines theamplitude of the lateral movements or oscillations of the needle inaccordance with the spacing of the holes a and b in the button. At itsopposite end the lever 4| carries a follower 43 which cooperates with acam groove 45 in the upper face of a main cam 46, fast on a vertical camshaft 41 which is driven from the shaft 29 by worm gearing as shown inFig. 2. Rotation of the cam 45 with-the cam groove 45 will cause thelever M to swing about the axis of the shaft 42, and this swingingmovement of the lever M will be transmitted to the carrier 25 throughthe inter mediation of the link 33. The cam groove 45 is so formed that,during each complete revolution of the cam 46, one group of stitches(attaching stitches followed by a tying stitch) will be produced.

The main cam 46 is also provided with a cam groove 49 which, throughlinkage to be described hereinafter, controls the operation of thelooper mechanism 22 so that the same operates in timed relation with theneedle Zlhboth with respect to stitch-forming and with respect 1 tolateral movements during a sewing operation.

member 25 which is itself mounted, as hereinafter described, formovement in a horizontal plane both laterally and longitudinally of themachine frame. The needle bar 2| is guided at its upper end in a bearing26, mounted by means of a universal joint 2'! in the head II. The needlebar 2| is reciprocated in its bearings 23 and 26 through suitableconnections, generally indicated at 28, from a shaft 29 which issuitably journalled in the head H and to which power is applied underthe control of suitable stop mechanism described hereinafter.

In attaching a button B to work W (Fig. 18), the carrier 25 isoscillated laterally during successive descents of the needle 28, exceptduring the last two descents of the same, so that the needle will passalternately through the holes a and b in the button to form a series ofattaching stitches s through said holes, and then twice through the samehole in the button to form a tying stitch.

The carrier member 25 for the lower needle bar guide 23. islongitudially slidable in a guide groove in a head 30, having a shank 3|pivoted at 32 in the head I I of the machine. The carrier 25 is,therefore, free to move longitudinally in the head 39 or to oscillatelaterally with said head about the pivot axis of the latter.

The carrier 25 is oscillated about the pivot axis of the head 30 tocause the needle to pass The looper mechanism 22 comprises a looperblock 50 (Figs. 1 and 4), clamped at 51 to a looper shaft 52 which isiournalled in sleeves 53 and 54 that are, in turn, journalled inbearings 55 and 56, respectively, provided by the machine frame. Thelooper block 52 carries a pair of loopers 57 and 58 and cooperating loopspreaders 59 and 58 (see also Fig. 15). The loop spreaders 59 and 60 arepivotally mounted at BI and 62 respectively, in the looper block 53 andare provided with tails or followers 63 and 64, respectively, whichcooperate with a cam plate 65. The cam plate 65 is firmly mounted on thesleeve 53 (Fig. 1). The upwardly bent ends of a suitably mounted torsionspring 56 on the looper block 50 engage the loop spreaders 59 and 68 inthe manner shown in Figs. 10 and 15, and normally urge them into closingengagement with their respective loopers 5i and 58, while leaf springs61 and 68 normally prevent axial removal of the loop spreaders 59 and 63from the looper block 56. The looper shaft 5| is provided intermediateits ends with an annular recess 69, receiving a parted collar 'a'IJwhich, to gether with the looper block 50, prevent axial movement of thesleeve 53 relative to the looper shaft 52. A nut 'II on one end of theother sleeve 54 retains an annular shoulder 12 thereof in engagementwith the bearing 56, thus preventing axial movement of said sleeve.Journalled on the. looper shaft 52 is another sleeve 73 which is heldaxially immovable thereon by means of a collar 13' which is clamped tothe looper shaft and straddled at 14 by said sleeve in the mannerparting such oscillation to the sleeve l3.

shown in 'Fig. 3 to permit oscillation of the which is guided formovement longitudinally, or

fore and aft, of the machine in guideways provided by the top of themachine bed It. In thus connecting the throat plate IT with the sleeve73, the latter is held against rotation with the looper shaft 52. Thesleeve 13 is also provided with an annularly recessed portion '18 whichextends over the parted collar 'lll and holds the same in place. Therecessed portion 7 8 of the sleeve .13 receives two opposite set screws19 and 8% (Fig. which engage machined shoulders 8i and $32,respectively, on the sleeve 53. Hence, the sleeve 53 and the cam platethereon are also held .against rotation with the looper shaft 52, andmay be angularly adjusted on the latter by .rnanipulating the set screws19 and 80.

Clamped at 83 to the looper shaft 52 is one member 84 of a slidercoupling, the other, cooperating member 85 of which is provided by theadjacent end of the sleeve '54 (Figs. 1 and 3). The sleeve Ed isprovided with spaced lateral arms 86 (Figs. 3 and 4) which are connectedby a link 81 with one end of a rocker 88, pivotally mounted at 89 to themachine frame and carrying a follower 90 which cooperates with thepreviously mentioned cam groove 49 in the main cam '46. The cam groovel!) is designed to impart to the looper shaft 52 and the looper block 59thereon the oscillations requisite in the formation of a roup of(attachin and tying) stitches through cessiye descents of the needle 2.8to cause the latter to pass alternately through one pair of holes in thebutton so as to form, in conjunction with the looper mechanism 22, agroupof stitches through said one pair of holes, whereupon the carrier'25 and the looper shaft .52 are shifted longitudinally, or in adirection fore and aft, of the machine, to bring the needle and thelooper mechanism into position to form another group of stitches throughthe other pair .of holes .in the button. In order to shift the carrier25 fore and aft of the machine, for the purpose of transferring theoperation of the stitch-forming mechanism from one pair of holes in afour hole button to the other pair .of holes .therein at the end of acomplete revolution of the main cam .25,

a linkage (not shown) is provided which, under the control of the maincam 46, shifts the carrier 25 longitudinally of the machine at theproper time. This linkage may be of the same construction as that shownand described in the copending application of Franklin A.Reece, SerialNo. 486,187, filed May 8, .1943 and the ,same is adjustable so that theextentof the longitudinal movement of the carrier 25 may be .adjusted tovarying spacing of the two pairs of holes .in a

- four-hole button, and also adjustable .so that no together with thecarrier 25, the sleeve 1:3?18'0011- 'nected by a stud .95 with a link'96 (Fig. 1) :form- .ing partqof alin-kage (not shown) which is*drivingly connected with the linkage above-mentioned that shifts thecarrier 25 fore and :aft of the-machine. Inasmuch as the sleeves 53 and13 are held axially immovable on the looper shaft 52, the cam plate 65and the throat plate H are moved axially with the looper shaft .52 andthe looper mechanism 22. The coupling member :84, being axiallyimmovable on the looper shaft 52, moves axially with the latter relativeto the other coupling member without relinquishing its drivin connectionwith the latter at any time.

The machine is driven from any suitable power source through belt I50which passes over a :belt pulley'I5I on the shaft.29 (Fig. 1). The beltpulley I5I is loose onthe shaft 29 and is adapted to be drivinglyconnected therewith by a combined clutch and stop mechanism which, asherein shown, is similar to that shown and described in the patent toReece et al. No. 2,134,417, October 25, 1938. Referring to Figs. 1, 3band 30, said mechanism includes a ring I52 carried by the pulley I5I andhaving a pin 1 53 which projects through a slot I54 in said pulley andis en gaged by a spring I55, located in a recess in-said pulley, wherebysaid ring is permitted .a limited yielding angular movement with respectto .the pulley in order to cushion the shock of starting. The ring I52has a shoulder I58 (Figs. 3c and 3d) adapted to be engaged by a clutchclog I51, pivoted at I58 to a hub I59 (Fig. 3b) which is keyed to theshaft 29 and normally urged into engagement with said shoulder by aspring I60 connecting said dog with an arm is! fixed to said hub. Thedog I5? is formed with a stop finger I62 adapted, when the connectedparts are rotated in the'direction of the arrow in Fig. 30, to engageand depress laterally extendin head I630; of a rod i63, slidable in astop arm I64, when the latter is in the position shown in Figs. 3c and3d and also in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 1,, thereby disengaging thedog i577 from the shoulder I 56 i as shown in Fig. .312 and stopping therotation of the shaft '29. A spring urged plunger IBM in the stop armI86 bears against the head i fita of is disengaged. A pin iii ib on thespring-urged plunger 54a projects into an elongated slot I640 in thestop arm I84 to limit the outward movement of said plunger lt-la. Upwardmovement of the rod I63 beyond the position shown in full lines in Fig.1 is prevented by a cross-pin I532) in said rod which engages the stoparm in the manner shown in Fig. 1. Recoil of the shaft 29 under theinfluence of the spring-urged plunger i Eta is prevented by means notshown herein but fully disclosed in said patent to Reece et al. No.2,134,417.

The stop arm led is firmly mounted on a rock shaft I 55, journalled in abracket E65 in the neck I2 of the machine and having secured thereto atthe outside of the machine frame an arm I51 (Fig. 3a) connected by achain E68 with a suitable treadle (not shown) said arm being preferablyprovided with a spring-pressed positioning plunger i i!) adapted toregister with either one of two spaced depressions (one being shown atlit in Fig. 3a) in the outer wall of the machine frame, therebyreleasably retaining the stop arm I5 3 in either of the two positionsshown in Fig. 1. To start the machine, the treadleis .de-- pressed,thereby rocking the shaft .1 65 so as to move the stop arm I64 into thefull-line position shown in Fig. 1. The machine having been started willcontinue to operate until automatically stopped. For this purpose, the.following mechanism is provided.

Firmly mounted on the inner end of the rock shaft IE is an arm H! towhich is pivoted a hunter I12, resting on a stud [13 in a suitablebearing I14 in the machine frame and having a bevelled end I15, adaptedto be engaged by a stud I16 which projects from the underside of themain cam 46 when the latter reaches an angular position corresponding tothe completion of one group of stitches (attaching stitches followed bya tying stitch). Such engagement of thebevelled end I of the hunter I12by the stud I16 causes said bunter to be forced toward the right inFigs. 1 and 3a, thereby rocking the shaft I65 clockwise as viewed inFig. 1 and moving the stop arm I64 into the dot-and-dash line positionin Fig. 1 to disengage the clutch and stop the machine. The stud I16 ispreferably notched at I11 (Fig. 3a) so that the slight over travel ofthe parts incidental to stopping the machine will bring said notchopposite the end of the hunter I12 in order to permit the machine to beagain started by operation of the treadle.

As shown in Fig. 1, the stud I13, which is manually turnable, isflattened at its end as at I18. In the angular position shown in Fig. l,the hunter I12 rests on the periphery of the stud I13 and is therebyheld in the path of movement of the stud I16 on the main cam 46. Hence,in this angular position of the stud I13 the machine will be stopped atthe completion of each single group of stitches, i. e. after eachcomplete revo lution of the main cam 45. However, if it is desired tohave the machine stopped at the completion of two groups of stitches, asin sewing on a four-hole button, for instance, the operator of themachine, before starting the same, turns the stud I13 so that the hunterE12 comes to rest on the flat end I18 of said stud and is accordinglylowered below the path of movement of the stud I16 on the main cam.Hence, the stud 15 will not engage the bunter I12 after the firstcomplete revolution of the main cam 46, and the stop arm is not shiftedinto the clutch-disengaging position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig.1, with the result that the main cam 45 will continue its rotationbeyond the first revolution. To stopthe machine at the completion of thesecond revolution of the main cam 45, means, not shown herein but fullydisclosed in said patent to Reece et al., No. 2,134, i1'l', are providedwhich automatically rock the lowered bunter I12 into the position shownin Fig. 1 during the second revolution of the main cam 45, so that saidbunter will be actuated by the stud I16 and the machine stopped at thecompletion of the second revolution of the main cam.

The cooperation between the needle 20 and the looper mechanism 22 in theformation of a group of attaching stitches through a pair of holes in abutton, is fully described in the prior patents previously mentioned,the needle 20 being reciprocated and oscillated so as to passalternately through a pair of holes in the button and the looper shaft52 with the looper mechanism 22 being oscillated relative to the camplate 65 to cause the loopers and their respective loop spreadersalternately to seize and spread successive thread loops cast by theneedle and deflect said loops into the path of the needle for entry bythe same on its spectively.

The entry by the needle 20 of the last thread loop 1 in the formation ofa group of attaching stitches through the holes a and b in the button Bis illustrated in Fig. 8. During the formation of these attachingstitches, the loopers 51, 58 and their respective loop spreaders performtheir normal function, the looper 51 and loop spreader 59 seizing andspreading all loops cast by the needle on ascending through the hole ain the button and deflecting them into the path of the needle for entryby the same on descending through the hole b in the button, and thelooper 58 and loop spreader 50 seizing and spreading all loops cast bythe needle on ascending through the hole I) in the button and deflectingthem into the path of the needle for entry by the same on descendingthrough the hole a in the button. During continued descent of the needleinto the last thread loop l in the formation of a group of attachingstitches from the position shown in Fig. 8 into the lowermost positionshown in Fig. 9, the looper block 50 is, under the control of theportion 49a (Fig. 4b) of the cam groove 49 in the main cam 46, rockedinto the position shown in- Fig. 9 so as to release from the looper 58and spreader 60 the loop Z which is accordingly cast about the needleand subsequently drawn up against the work W by a conventional take-up(not shown) when the needle clears the work on its following ascent. Onsaid following ascent, the needle leaves behind a thread loop le. Forforming a tying stitch, the looper block 50 is, in accordance with itsnormal operation and under the control of the cam groove portion 49b inthe main cam 46, swung or rocked from the position shown in Fig. 9 intothe position shown in Fig. 10, so that the looper 51 and loop. spreader59 seize and spread the loop .l and deflect the same as illustrated inFigs. 4a and 10. However, on its next and final descent in a sewingcycle of the machine, the needle, under the control of the cam groove inthe main cam 46, passes again through the same hole a in the button forthe formation of a tying stitch. In order that the needle may, on itslast descent, enter the loop I, the latter is, in accordance with thepresent invention, transferred from the looper 51 and loop spreader 59to the looper 58 and loop spreader 60 so that the normal loop-deflectingfunction of the latter looper and loop spreader may be used to bring theloop l into the path of the descending needle. This transfer of the loopZ is illustrated in Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive, the hereinafter describedmovements of the looper and loop spreaders, with their carrier block 50,being produced by a portion 490 of the cam groove 49 (Figs. 4a and 4b).Thus, Fig. 10 shows the loop Z held spread and deflected by the looper51 and loop spreader 59, while Fig. 11 shows the momentary release ofthe loop Z from the looper 51 and loop spreader 59 during an abnormalcounterclockwise rocking motion of the looper block 50, from theposition shown in Fig. 10 into the position shown in Fig. 11, duringwhich motion the loop spreader 59 clears the non-rotatable cam plate 65and closes against the looper 51. During continued counter-clockwiserocking motion of the looper block from the position shown in Fig. 11into that shown in Fig. 12, the looper 58 and loop spreader 60 enter thereelased loop Z, the loop spreader 60 engaging the non-rotatable orstationary cam plate and spreading the loop Z only after having enteredsaid loop. The loop Z following descents, re

thus, brought into the path of the descending needle and will be,entered by the same in the, ashicns nin F 2an D n continued descent othe needle from the position shown in Fig. 12, the looper block 5!) isrocked into,- the position shown in- Fig. 13, thereby reeas ns rqmihe op18. a 99p der W. he. 9.0.1? i h ac ord a a out e and ub equen y r wngainst the WQ 'EhWE b teet rsc. On t a a c t a ew ng ycl themc i e ee east a est 999. lb wh q s s iz d, s ad an e e t by the looper 1 and loopspreader 59 during normal oscillation of the looper block 53, under thecontrol of the portion 39d in the cam groove 49, from the positionshownin Fig. 13 into that sho'wnin Fig." 14. While the loop l is thus heldspread and deflected were looper 57 and loop spreader 59, a cutter ltd(Figs. 1 and 3a) is operated just when the machine is stopped, so as tosever'one legof the loop l as at ltlinFi'g. 14a, thereby. concluding theformation of the concatenated loops Z andZ into a knot. The machine.concludes an operating cycle and is stopped when. the follower 90 on therocker 83 cooperates withthejportion we of the cam groove 49 (Fig. 4b)and the looper block 5%? assumes the posi tion shown in Fig. 14. Thegroove in the mainjcam it is so designed that the needle Ed is laterallyshifted the. next time in the next operating cycle of the machine afterthe first needle descent, wherefor the firstneedle penetration in thenext operating cycle will occur through the hole a (Fig. 14) inthe nextbutton to be sewed on. Since the looper block til stops in the positionshown in Fig. 14 when the machine is stopped at the end of an operatingcycle, and since the looper 51' and loop spreader 59, in accordance withtheir normal function, are to seize, spread and deflectthe first loopcast by the needle on its first reciprocation through the hole a in thebutton in the next operating cycle of the machine, the looper block is,after the restart of the machine, returnedto the position shown in Fig.13 before the needle 20 descends for the first time. This isaccomplished by a quick return portion 499 of the cam groove 59. Theportion 10 I81, journalled in the bracket its. Mcuntedon the other endof the stubshaft 56;] is a, rocker 688, adapted to cooperate with thelower end of the rod I63. in the stop arm Hi l. A Spring I89,

acts on the link I85; to maintain the rocker [.883

in engagement with the rod I63. The rod I613,

when depressed on clutch, disengagement; will:

turn the rocker E88 and, hence. ,t-he arm I86, clockwise as viewedin.Fig. 1, and such turning movement of the arm l85will, through intermeediation of the, link i855, bellrcranlg lever 582' and pin [3-], causemovement of the cutter lfiilfrom inoperative position (Fig. 3d) intocuttingposition. The cutter Hit will be retracted intoin:

operative position when the machine is restarted;

andthe rod IE3 is released for return to itsv up.- perrnost positionshown in. full lines, in; Fig. 1;

The pin-and-slot connectionlB l. 1.80. between the. cutter I09 and thebell crank lever I82ris: suchthat the cutter ltd may be shifted foreandaft of the machine in sewing on a four-holebutton;

for instance, without. being moved into cutting position.

The present invention further, preferably ineludes. provisionforarresting. the releasedloop Z during, its transfer from one looperand loop spreader to. the other, looper and loop spreader. A threadloopfreely suspended as the loop Z in Figs. 1-1 and 19 has, unless spunneutral, a tendency. to twist into a. disposition such as that. shown inFig. 29, for instance, as. well as curl up or turn up, at its lowerendin the fashion shown in Fig.

woof-the camgroove 49' next-swings the looper needle onitsfirstreciprocation. Thereafter, and

until thefollower-9d on the rockerildcooperates with thecamgroove-portionddc, the-cam groove 49-shifts the looper blocklaterallyfor each reciprocationotthe needle, whereby the looper 5-! andloopspreader 5'9 seize and spread allloops castby the needle onascending through the hole ain. the. button and. deflect them into thepath of theneedlefor entry by the sameon descendingthrough the. hole binbutton, and the looper 58 and: loop spreader G0; seize and.- spread allloops cast by the needle. onascendingthrough the hole bin the buttonand, deflect them into the path of theneedlefor entry by the same ondescendingthrough the holea in the button. The cutter I00 isof the. formshownsinFig. 3a and pivoted on the s.o.cket 1.6: (Fig. 1.) so. as tobeturnable. about thelatter. and movablefore and. aft of the machinetogether with the looper mechanism, The cutter MB is also. provided witha slot I80, slidably receiving a pin l8! on a bell cranklever. E82 whichis pivoted at I33. to a block ISA. on the bearing provided-by the bed.lit-of themachine. The bell crank lever 182 is; connected by a link I85with an arm I8 6; on one end ofa stubsh-aft- 21. To prevent any twistingand, curling of the thread loop Z for a safe transfer from one. looperand loop spreader to the other looper and loop spreader, regardless ofhow the. thread is spun, there are mounted on the.-bot tom side of. ththroatplate l1 twoplates. Hi5 and let (Figs. 1 and 8 to 17) having.notches Hi1, and I08, re-

spectively, in .their adjacent edges. These notches, [cl-and 508 are so.arranged that the'notch I98 1 will be entered by the rear leg of eachloop while the latter. is beingdeflected and spread by either looper,and cooperating loop spreader (Figs. 15

and 16), and the notch It] will be entered bythe front leg of each loopseized by the looper 5]; and cooperating. loop spreader 59 on being defectedpand spread by the same. Hence, when the loop, is is momentarilyfreely suspended as shown, in Fig. 11, the front leg. :10 thereof passesthrough the notch It? and the rear leg y, thereof passes. through thenotch H18 in the manner best shown. in Fig. 17, thus. positivelypreventing any eventual twisting of the freely suspended loop 1?, aswill be readily understood. The notches lilg'i and list also restrainthe loop l sufiiciently so that the same will not curl up inthe fashionshOWnin Fig. 21. Iii-fact, one of these plates, preferably the. frontplate N; with its.

notch Hi1 is sufficient efiectively ,to prevent twisting and curling ofthey freely suspended loop- The plate lilfiisprovided at its bottom sideadja..

cent the notch lll swith arib It, (Figs. 6, '7 and 17) which, by.forming a downward continuation of the, side wallv of the notch I68engaged by thev 6a, for instance, thus leaving only a portion of the.loop to, curl up. to an insignificant extent.

Thus, by t e p ov sion of the ot ed. plates 05.

and I06, or even the provision of only one of these plates, thedescribed transfer of the loop Z from one looper and loop spreader tothe other looper and loop spreader is assured, and the twisting andcurling tendencies of the freely suspended loop are effectivelycounteracted. Of course; the loop-arrester plates I and IE6 can bedispensed with if the needle thread is spun neutral and thestitch-forming mechanism accurately timed for the occasion. a

'It is now apparent that, by transferring the loop 1 from one looper andcooperating loop spreader to the other looper and cooperating loopspreader in the formation of a tying stitch, the normal loop-seizing,spreading and deflecting functions of both loopers and cooperatingloopspreaders are utilized, and the cam plate 65 may remain stationary forthe formation of the attaching stitches as Well asthe terminating tyingstitch formed by the machine during an operating cycle thereof.

The described transfer of a thread loop from one looper and loopspreader to another looper and loop spreader, while advantageous in theattachment of a button to material, as explained, is also advantageousfor other types of sewing work, for example, in the attachment of a tagI toworkW' (Fig. 22). The stitch-forming mechanism employed for the tagattachment may be like that described in connection with the buttonsewing machine and include a reciprocatory and oscillatory needle I2 I,an oscillatory looper'block I22 with spaced loopers I23, I241 andcooperating loop spreaders I25, I26, There may also be provided aloop-arrester plate I2'I of the same construction and'function as theplate I06 in Fig. 17. In attaching the tag I20 to the work W, the needleI2I first descends through one hole (I28, for instance) of a series ofholes I28 to I3I in said tag and through the work W, whereupon thelooper I23 and loop spreader I Will, during clockwise oscillation of thelooper block I22 as viewed in Fig. 24, seize the thread loop Z cast bythe needle and deflect said loop into the path of the needle for entryby the same on its following descent through the hole I29 in the tag. Onthe following retraction of the needle from the hole I29, the looperblock I22 reverses its oscillation, thereby releasing the loop Z fromthe looper I23 and spreader I25 and seizing the next cast needle threadloop 2 with the looper I24 and spreader I26; The loop I is in themeantime drawn up against the work W by suitable take-up mechanism (notshown), and the loop Z is deflected in the fashion shown in Fig. 25. Theneedle then descends through the hole I28 and enters the spread anddeflected loop Z whereupon the latter is, on clockwise oscillation ofthe looper block from the position shown in Fig. 25 into that shown inFig. 26, released from the looper I24 and spreader I26 and drawnupagainst the work. During such clockwise oscillation of the looperblock 22 and while the needle ascends through the hole I28, the looperI23 and spreader I25 seize the next needle thread loop Z and deflect thesame in the fashion shown in Fig. 26. However, since the needle nextdescends through the hole I36 in the tag, the loop Z requires transferfrom the looper I23 and spreader I25 unto the looper I24 and spreaderI26 in order that said loop may be deflected into the path of the needleon its next descent. Hence, before the work W is fed in the direction ofthe arrow in Fig. 28 to bring the hole I in the tag into alignment withthe needle; the looperoscillation is'reversed in order to accomplish'thereferred transfer'of the loop l (Figs. 26, 27 and 2251 When the Work isfed forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 28, the transferred loop Iis drawnfrom the notch in the loop-arrester plate I21 "and into aforwardly extending portion I39 of the throat I 38 in a stationarythroat plate I (see dot-and-dash line position of throat in Fig. 23)whereby the loop Z is deflected in the manner shown in Fig. 28 to forman open thread triangle which the needle may enter on its next descentthrough the hole I30 in the tag. After entry of the needle in thedeflected loop 1 the looper block I22 is swung from the position shownin Fig. 28 into that shown in Fig. 29, thereby releasing the loop Z fromthe looper I24 and spreader I28, as Well as seizing the next needlethread loop 1 with the looper I23 and spreader I25 and deflecting thelatter loop into the path of the needle for entry by the same on itsnext descent through the hole I3I in the tag. On ascent through the holeISI- in the tag, the needle casts the next loop I which is seized anddeflected by the looper I24 and spreader I26 on counterclockwiseoscillation of the looper block I22 as shown in Fig. 36. However, sincethe needle next descends through the hole I29 in the tag, the loop 1requires transfer from the looper I24 and spreader I26 unto the looperI23 and spreader I25 in order that said loop may be deflected into thepath of the needle on its next descent. Hence, before the work W is fedrearwardly in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 32 to bring the holeI29 in the tag into alignment with the needle, the looper oscillation isreversed in order to accomplish the mentioned transfer of the loop I.(Figs. 30, 31 and 32). In this fashion five chain stitches s to s areformed (Figs. 22 and 23) by which the tag I28 is attached to the work W.A tying stitch s may finally be formed by passing the needle twicethrough the hole I 29 in the tag and accordingly operating the loopermechanism I22.

.I claim:

1. In a sewing machine, the combination with a work-penetrating needleand two spaced loopers together movable in opposite directions, of meansto move said loopers in one of said directions to seize with one loopera needle thread loop cast by the needle, and then in the oppositedirection to withdraw said one looper from said loop and seize thelatter with the other looper.

2. In a sewing machine, the combination with a reciprocatory andoscillatory needle and looper mechanism including two spacedloop-handling devices together movable in opposite directions to seizethread loops cast by the needle in its oscillatory end positions,respectively, and deflect them into the path of the needle in its otheroscillatory end position, of means to move said devices in said oppositedirections to cooperate with the oscillating needle in the formation offirst stitches= in work, andyto move said devices once in both.

of said oppositedirectionsduring a repeat re-- ciprocation of the needlein one of its oscillatory end positions to cause seizure and deflectionof a,

needle thread loop alternately by said devices and. its release from thelatter between said alternate. seizures for the formation of anotherstitch differently disposed than said first stitches.

3. In a sewing machine, the combination with: a reciprocatory needle andtwo spaced loop-han-- dling devices together movable in oppositedirections to cause seizure and deflection of a needle thread loopalternately by said devices and its release'from the latter between saidalternate seiz 13 ures, of means to hold said released loop for seizureby the next-seizing device.

4. The combination in a sewing machine as set forth in claim 3, in whichsaid means comprises an element having a notch in which one leg of saidreleased loop is received.

5. The combination in a sewing machine as set forth in claim 3, in whichsaid means comprises an element having a notch into which one leg ofsaid loop moves on deflection of the latter by either device and inwhich said leg remains while said loop is released.

6. The combination in a sewing machine as set forth in claim 3, in whichsaid means comprises.

an element having a notch into which one leg of said loop moves ondeflection of the latter by either device, and in which said leg remainswhile said loop is released whereby any twisting tendency of thereleased loop is counteracted, and a wall portion of said notch extendsbeyond the confines of the latter and is engaged by said leg whereby anycurling tendency of the released loop is counteracted.

7. In a sewing machine, the combination with a reciprocatory andoscillatory needle and looper mechanism including two spacedloop-handling devices together movable in opposite directions to seizethread loops cast by the needle in its oscillatory end positions,respectively, and deflect them into the path of the needle at its otheroscillatory end position, of means to move said devices in said oppositedirections to cooperate with the oscillating needle in the formation offirst stitches in work, and to move said devices once in said oppositedirections during a repeat reciprocation Y 14 mechanism including twospaced loop-handling devices together movable in opposite directions toposition thread loops left behind by the needle in its oscillator endpositions, respectively, for entry by the needle in its otheroscillatory end position, as well as mechanism to reciprocate the needlealternately in its oscillatory end positions a number of times and thenreciprocate the needle at least twice in the same oscillatory endposition for the formation of chain stitches and a tying stitch, ofmechanism to move said devices in said opposite directions duringsuccessive needle reciprocations, respectively, except during the repeatreciprocation of the needle in the same oscillatory end position, and.to move said devices also in said opposite directions during said repeatneedle reciprocation to cause alternate looppositioning operations ofsaid devices.

9. In a sewing machine, the combination with a reciprocatory andoscillatory needle, of two spaced loopers and cooperating loop spreaderstogether movable in opposite directions, a cam immovable in saidopposite directions and adapted to actuate said spreaders, said loopers,spreaders and cam being so coordinated that the loopers and theirrespective spreaders will, on movement in said opposite directions,seize and then spread thread loops cast by the needle in its oscillatoryend positions, respectively, and deflect them for entry b the needle inits other oscillatory end position, and means to move said loopers andspreaders in said opposite directions to cooperate with the oscillatingneedle in the formation of first stitches, and to move said loopers andspreaders once in said opposite directions during a repeat reciprocationof the needle in one of its oscillatory end positions to cause seizure,spread and deflection of a needle thread loop alternately by saidloopers and cooperating loop spreaders and its release from said loopersand spreaders between said alternate seizures for the formation ofanother stitch differently disposed than said first stitches.

Y JOSEPH H. PIKUL.

